Arcola police officer arrested for armed violence

Rogelio Javier Gutierrez, 33, of Humboldt, was arrested at the Arcola PoliceDepartment without incident.

TUSCOLA — An Arcola police officer who also serves as the Hindsboro chief of police is being held at the Douglas County jail after state police arrested him for armed violence and official misconduct.

According to a police report, state police arrested Rogelio Javier Gutierrez, 33, of Humboldt, on Friday without incident at the Arcola Police Department.

Gutierrez was taken to the county jail, where he is being held on $100,000 bond, according to Douglas County Chief Deputy Peter Buckley. Gutierrez' next court appearance has been set for March 26.

Arcola Police Chief Michael W. Phillips said Gutierrez has been suspended with pay as an Arcola city employee and police officer.

"The city of Arcola and the Arcola police department will not be making further comment at this time," Phillips said.

Lt. Tad Williams, zone commander for the state police, said Gutierrez was arrested following a two-month investigation. Williams wouldn't say what specific armed violence and official misconduct Gutierrez is alleged to have done.

According to a police report, Phillips received a citizen complaint about one of his police officers in January, immediately contacted the state police and asked it to conduct a criminal investigation.

Williams said state police special agents followed up with the investigation, leading to Friday's arrest. Williams would not give specifics about what Gutierrez is alleged to have done, but he said it happened "over a period of time."

"This didn't happen only on one specific date," Williams said.

Williams said nobody was physically hurt. He said there was at least one victim, with police investigating the possibility of additional victims.